Ladder attachment platform

ABSTRACT

A ladder attachment platform is provided that includes a base for attachment to a ladder that has first and second side rails and a plurality of rungs that extend between in a lateral direction. Also included is a user platform for having a user stand thereon that is carried by the base. The user platform may be positioned with respect to the ladder so that it is not located between a first plane that extends through the first side rail and is perpendicular to the lateral direction and a second plane that extends through the second side rail and is perpendicular to the lateral direction.

STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSOREDRESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

This invention was made with Government support under Contract No.DE-AC09-96SR18500 awarded by the United States Department of Energy. TheGovernment has certain rights in the invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to ladder attachment platforms.More particularly, the present application involves a ladder attachmentplatform that allows a user to stand at a location spaced from the frontof the ladder.

BACKGROUND

Ladders are used to gain access to higher vertical locations. In someinstances, a user will stand on the ladder to perform an activity oraccess a particular area. It is known to provide ladders with flatsurfaces onto which a user may stand during use of the ladder so thatthe user is afforded with a wider and more comfortable standing surface.However, it is sometimes the case that a user may want to access an areathat is offset from the ladder. Such flat, standing surfaces are notoffset from the ladder for stability purposes to ensure that the ladderwill not fall over. These surfaces only allow the user to face forwardtowards the ladder and are thus limited in application. Further, suchflat, standing surfaces do not include handrails or other safetyfeatures.

Rail cars typically have one or more ladders located thereon. Aside frompulling rail cars, locomotives may push rail cars in certain instances.The pushing of rail cars requires a switchman to ride on the lead railcar to flag and provide watch for the locomotive engineer. Standardpractice is for the switchman to ride on a ladder that is typicallyattached to the side of the lead rail car. The switchman must keep onehand on the ladder in order to firmly hold onto the ladder thus impedinghis or her ability to operate an emergency brake, radio, or provide handsignals. Although minimally adequate for short trips, standing on theladder of a lead rail car during long distance moves is not practical orsafe. As such, there remains room for variation and improvement withinthe art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including thebest mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is setforth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, whichmakes reference to the appended Figs. in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ladder attachment platform inaccordance with one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a right side elevation view of the ladder attachment platformof FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the ladder attachment platform ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the ladder attachment platform of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a left side elevation view of the ladder attachment platformof FIG. 1.

Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification anddrawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features orelements of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention,one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Eachexample is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and notmeant as a limitation of the invention. For example, featuresillustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used withanother embodiment to yield still a third embodiment. It is intendedthat the present invention include these and other modifications andvariations.

It is to be understood that the ranges mentioned herein include allranges located within the prescribed range. As such, all rangesmentioned herein include all sub-ranges included in the mentionedranges. For instance, a range from 100-200 also includes ranges from110-150, 170-190, and 153-162. Further, all limits mentioned hereininclude all other limits included in the mentioned limits. For instance,a limit of up to 7 also includes a limit of up to 5, up to 3, and up to4.5.

The present invention provides for a ladder attachment platform 10 thatcan be used in conjunction with a ladder 14 that provides a userplatform 28 that allows a user to stand thereon and face multipledirections. The user platform 28 is spaced laterally away from theladder 14 to afford the user with access to areas away from the ladder14. A handrail assembly 58 may be included to assist the user inmaintaining balance on the user platform 28 during use. The handrailassembly 58 can be incorporated into a rail car 60 so that the user, whomay be a switchman, can ride thereon and have one or more hands free inorder to operate an emergency brake, radio, or provide flag signals. Inother arrangements, the ladder attachment platform 10 can be associatedwith ladders 14 that are not incorporated onto rail cars 60 so that theuser can access additional areas away from the ladder 14.

One exemplary embodiment of the ladder attachment platform 10 isillustrated in FIGS. 1-5. The ladder attachment platform 10 includes abase 12 that may be arranged in a variety of manners. For example, aseries of square tubular members can be attached to one another to forma generally open framework structure. Although described as being squaretubular members, the components making up the base 12 can be variouslyarranged and may be for instance rectangular tubular members, circulartubular members, or solid members. In other arrangements, the base 12can be a closed structure formed from a single piece so that it does nothave an open framework structure. The base may be made of any materialsuch as plastic, metal or wood in accordance with various exemplaryembodiments. The base 12 may be arranged with respect to a ladder 14 sothat a first side 40 of the base 12 faces the ladder 14, and so that asecond, opposite side 42 faces away from the ladder 14.

The rail car 60 may include an end 68 that has a ladder 14 locatedthereon. The ladder attachment platform 10 can be attached to the ladder14 in accordance with certain exemplary embodiments. The ladder 14 has afirst side rail 16 and a second side rail 18 that may extend in avertical direction 72 and can be spaced from one another in a lateraldirection 26. A plurality of rungs 20, 22, and 24 may extend from thefirst side rail 16 to the second side rail 18 and can run in the lateraldirection 26. Any number of rungs can be present in the ladder 14 inaccordance with different embodiments. The first and second side rails16 and 18 may be positioned so that a first plane 30 extending throughthe first side rail 16 is parallel to a second plane 32 extendingthrough the second side rail 18. The first plane 30 and second plane 32may each be perpendicular to the lateral direction 26. As such, thefirst plane 30 and second plane 32 may each be perpendicular to thedirection the rungs 20, 22 and 24 extend from the first side rail 16 tothe second side rail 18.

The base 12 may be attached to the ladder 14 in a number of manners. Asshown, a first attachment member 36 and a second attachment member 38may be attached to the base 12 and can be likewise attached to theladder 14. The attachment members 36 and 38 may be clevises and can bewelded or otherwise permanently attached to the first side 40 of thebase 12. The first rung 20 may be positioned within the openings of thedevises and pins can be inserted through the first and second attachmentmembers 36 and 38 in order to effect attachment of the members 36 and 38to the first rung 20. As such, the attachment members 36 and 38 can beremovably attachable to the first rung 20. In other arrangements, asingle attachment member 36 can be used and the second attachment member38 need not be present. Also, although described as being clevises, itis to be understood that the attachment members 36 and 38 need not beclevises in other exemplary embodiments but may be variously arranged.For example, brackets or clamps can be used to attach the turnbuckle tothe base 12 and ladder 14 instead of clevises 52 and 54 in accordancewith other exemplary embodiments. The attachment members 36 and 38 canbe attached to the first rung 20 so that they are capable of rotatingthereon. As such, the attachment members 36 and 38 may be pivotallyattached to the rung 20. Alternatively, the sizing and pins extendingthrough the attachment members 36 and 38 may be arranged so that themembers 36 and 38 are not capable of rotating with respect to the rung20 but are instead rigidly affixed thereto. The attachment members 36and 38 may have a length or size that is not adjustable so that theattachment members 36 and 38 cannot be adjusted to vary the distancebetween the base 12 and the first rung 20 in some embodiments. In otherembodiments, the attachment members 36 and 38 may be capable of beingadjusted to vary this distance.

A turnbuckle 50 may also be incorporated into the ladder attachmentplatform 10 in order to help secure the base 12 in place and preventrotation thereof. The turnbuckle 50 can be attached to both the base 12and a second rung 22 of the ladder 14 that is higher than the first rung20 in the vertical direction 72. Although shown as having a single thirdrung 24 between the rungs 20 and 22 to which the turnbuckle 50 and firstand second attachment members 36 and 38 are attached, any number ofrungs may be located between these members in other embodiments. Forexample, from 2-5 rungs, from 3-8 rungs, from 4-10 rungs, or up to 15rungs may be located between the rung attached to the turnbuckle 50 andthe rung attached to the first and second attachment members 36 and 38.Additionally, the rung attached to the turnbuckle 50 may be immediatelyadjacent the rung to which the first and second attachment members 36and 38 are attached in other exemplary embodiments.

An eye may extend from the upper surface of the base 12 for use forattachment to the turnbuckle 50. The turnbuckle 50 may include a clevis52. The clevis 52 can include a threaded stem that is received within aclevis-receiving member 56 of the turnbuckle 50. The clevis 52 definesan opening 53 into which the eye of the base 12 can be positioned. A pinmay be inserted through the clevis 52 and eye in order to retain theclevis 52 to the base 12. The clevis 52 may thus be attached to the base12 in a pivotal engagement. The other end of the turnbuckle 50 caninclude a clevis 54 that is arranged in a manner similar to the clevis52. The threaded stem of clevis 54 may be received within internalthreading of the clevis-receiving member 56. Additionally, an opening 55defined by the clevis 54 can be positioned so that the second rung 22 ofthe ladder 14 is disposed through the opening 55. A pin can be insertedthrough the clevis 54 and can contact the second rung 22. With such anarrangement, the turnbuckle 50 is suspended on the second rung 22. Theattachment of the clevis 54 to the rung 22 may thus be a slidingattachment. However, sliding of the clevis 54 along the lateraldirection 26 of the rung 22 may be prevented due to the fixing of theopposite clevis 52 to the base 12. As shown, the openings 53 and 55 ofthe clevises 52 and 54 are not oriented in the same direction as oneanother but are instead rotated and oriented 90° to one another.However, in other arrangements the openings 53 and 55 may be oriented inthe same direction as one another. Further, although shown as usingclevises 52 and 54, the turnbuckle 50 can be attached to the base 12 andrung 22 in other manners. The turnbuckle 50 can be attached to the base12 at a location remote from the first side 40 so that the turnbuckle 50attachment functions to prevent the base 12 from rotating about thefirst rung 20. In some arrangements, the turnbuckle 50 can be attachedto the second side 42 of the base 12. As illustrated, the turnbuckle 50is attached to an eye extending from the upper surface of the base 12 ata location that is proximate to the second side 42.

The clevis-receiving member 56 can be rotated by the user in order toshorten or elongate the turnbuckle 50. The clevises 52 and 54 are bothattached by way of a threaded engagement to the clevis-receiving member56. As such, rotation of the clevis-receiving member 56 causes thethreaded clevises 52 and 54 to move outward or inward with respect tothe clevis-receiving member 56. The turnbuckle 50 can thus be sized to alength in which the upper surface of the base 12 is horizontal withrespect to the ground. Further, adjustability of the turnbuckle 50allows the ladder attachment platform 10 to be used with ladders 14having rungs variously spaced from one another. In some embodiments, thelength of the turnbuckle 50 can be shortened or elongated when theturnbuckle 50 is attached to both the base 12 and the ladder 14. Inother embodiments, the turnbuckle 50 cannot be lengthened or shortenedwhen attached to the base 12 and ladder 14. Further, although shown anddescribed as incorporating a turnbuckle 50, the ladder attachmentplatform 10 need not include a turnbuckle 50 in accordance with otherexemplary embodiments.

The base 12 may include one or more posts extending from the uppersurface onto which a handrail assembly 58 is positioned. Although threeposts are shown, any number may be used in other embodiments. Stillfurther, no posts need be necessary in yet other exemplary embodiments.In this regard, the handrail assembly 58 may be integrally formed withthe base 12. The handrail assembly 58 can be made from tubular or solidmembers and may be a single component or may be multiple components thatare attached to one another. The handrail assembly 58 extends upwardsfrom the base 12 in the vertical direction 72.

The ladder attachment platform 10 also includes a user platform 28 thatis carried by the base 12. The user platform 28 can be a solid plate ormay be a grate in certain exemplary embodiments. Further, the userplatform 28 may be a series of parallel beams or slats in yet otherarrangements. The user platform 28 can be configured in any manner thatallows a user to stand thereon. The user platform 28 may be square orrectangular in shape in certain arrangements. In yet other exemplaryembodiments the user platform 28 can be variously shaped. The uppersurface 34 of the user platform 28 may be provided with an anti-skidmaterial or configuration to minimize the chance of slippage of the userwhen standing on the upper surface 34. The user platform 28 may belocated on the upper surface of the base 12. In other exemplaryembodiments, the user platform 28 can be located on the lower surface ofthe base 12 or can extend from a side of the base 12. The user platform28 may be integrally formed with the base 12 so that these twocomponents are a single piece. In yet other arrangements, the userplatform 28 may be removable from the base 12. The user platform 28 maybe permanently attached to the base 12. In some exemplary embodiments,the user platform 28 is welded to the base 12 or bolted to the base 12.

The handrail assembly 58 may be arranged adjacent the user platform 28so as to define a portion of the perimeter of the user platform 28. Inthis regard, the handrail assembly 58 may impede a user standing on theuser platform 28 from exiting the user platform 28 in the directiontowards the turnbuckle 50 or the first plane 30 or second plane 32. Thehandrail assembly 58 can also be positioned with respect to the userplatform 28 so as to impede a user on the user platform 28 from exitingthe user platform 28 over the second side 42 of the base 12. Thehandrail assembly 58 may be open so that the user is not impeded by thehandrail assembly 58 when exiting other portions of the user platform28. For example, a portion of the user platform 28 can be locatedproximate to the first side 40 of the base 12. The handrail assembly 58may be open at this location so that the user can freely exit the userplatform 28 across the first side 40 without being impeded by thehandrail assembly 58. Likewise, an end 44 of the base 12 may extend fromthe first side 44 to the second side 46. The end 44 is located remotefrom the rail car 60 so that the end 44 is the farthest portion of thebase 12 from the rail car 60 in the width direction 66. An end 46 of thebase 12 is located opposite from the end 44. The handrail assembly 58can be arranged so that a user on the user platform 28 can exit the userplatform 28 over the end 44 without being impeded by the handrailassembly 58. As such, in accordance with one exemplary embodiment, theperimeter of the user platform 28 may be defined by the handrailassembly 58, the end 44 of the base 12, and the first side 40 of thebase 12. The handrail assembly 58 may extend from 2 to 4 feet, from 3 to5 feet, or up to 10 feet above the upper surface of the base 12 in thevertical direction 72. The handrail assembly 58 may be removable fromthe base 12 for ease of attachment thereto. In other arrangements, thehandrail assembly 58 is permanently attached to the base 12. Thehandrail assembly 58 may be made out of aluminum in accordance with oneexemplary embodiment.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the relationship of the user platform 28to the rail car 60 will be discussed. The rail car 60 has a longitudinalcenterline 74 that runs in the length direction 70. The user platform 28may be positioned with respect to the rail car 60 so that thelongitudinal centerline 74 does not run through the user platform 28. Assuch, the entire user platform 28 may be spaced from the longitudinalcenterline 74 in the width direction 66 in certain exemplaryembodiments. Likewise, the ladder 14 may be spaced from the longitudinalcenterline 74 in the width direction 66 in certain arrangements so thatthe longitudinal centerline 74 does not extend through the ladder 14.The user platform 28 may be spaced from the ladder 14 in the widthdirection 66 so that no portion of the user platform 28 is locatedbetween the first plane 30 and the second plane 32. However, it is to beunderstood that other arrangements are possible in which a portion ofthe user platform 28 is located between the first plane 30 and thesecond plane 32. The first plane 30 extends through the first side rail16 and the second plane 32 extends through the second side rail 18, andthe first and second planes 30 and 32 are perpendicular to one anotherin the width direction 66. The user platform 28 may be positionedcompletely on one side of the first plane 30 in the width direction 66,and no portion of the user platform 28 may be located on both sides ofthe first plane 30 in the width direction 66. Still further, the userplatform 28 may be arranged so that it is located completely on one sideof the second plane 32 in the width direction 66 and so that no portionof the user platform 28 is located on both sides of the second plane 32in the width direction 66. However, it is to be understood that theaforementioned arrangements are only exemplary and that otherpositioning between the user platform 28 and the planes 30 and 32 arepossible.

As illustrated, the rail car 60 has a first side 62 and a second side 64that are opposite from one another in the width direction 66. The ladder14 and user platform 28 are located proximate to the first side 62. Anend 68 of the rail car 60 extends from the first side 62 to the secondside 64. The end 68 functions as the very front of the train when thelocomotive is pushing the plurality of rail cars. The ladder 14 may belocated on the end 68, and the entire user platform 28 may extend beyondthe end 68 in the length direction 70. In other arrangements, a portionor all of the user platform 28 may be located rearward of the front end68 in the length direction 70. Further, the entire user platform 28 mayextend completely beyond the entire ladder 14 in the length direction70. In yet other arrangements, the user platform 28 may be located inthe length direction 70 on either side of the ladder 14, or may belocated on one side of the ladder 14 in the length direction 70 andlocated at the same location as the ladder 14 in the length direction70.

The entire user platform 28 may be located outboard of the first side 62in the width direction 66. In other exemplary embodiments, a portion ofthe user platform 28 is located outboard of the first side 62 in thewidth direction 66, and a portion of the user platform 28 is locatedinboard of the first side 62 in the width direction 66. As such, aportion or all of the user platform 28 may be located outboard of therail car 60 in the width direction 66. The location of the user platform28 and other portions of the ladder attachment platform 10 may still beselected so that railroad clearances with respect to the width direction66 and vertical direction 72 are satisfied such that the user platform28 and other portions of the ladder attachment platform 10 do notcontact tunnel walls, switches, or other items associated with railtraffic. The user may stand on the user platform 28 and can access aside ladder 76 that is attached to the first side 62 of the rail car 60.The handrail assembly 58 is arranged so that access to and from the sideladder 76 and user platform 28 is not impeded. The user platform 28allows the user to simply stand thereon and perform activities with bothhands. Alternatively, the user may lean a portion of his or her bodyagainst the handrail assembly 58 for support while using one or morehands to do various activities. Further, the user can grasp the handrailassembly 58 and/or side ladder 76 with one or more hands for additionalsupport when standing on the user platform 28. The user platform 28 maybe a stable surface that allows the user to remain in a normal standingposition thereon with his or her hands free to operate an emergencybrake, radio, or provide flag signals.

Although shown and illustrated as being used with a rail car 60 in atrain, it is to be understood that the ladder attachment platform 10need not be associated with a ladder 14 of a rail car 60. For example,the ladder attachment platform 10 can be used with ladders 14 employedin various applications. For example, the ladder attachment platform 10can be made of lighter materials and attached to a tower ladder 14. Theladder attachment platform 10 may find utility upon being used inconjunction with ladders 14 on a chimney, radio tower, or water tank.Such use allows a user to extend the working surface of the ladder 14 sothat other areas next to the ladder 14 can be accessed. The ladders 14associated for use with the ladder attachment platform 10 arecontemplated as being fixed ladders. As such, the ladders 14 aregenerally permanently fixed to the structure to which they are used. Aportable ladder, on the other hand, can be moved from place to place bythe user and is not permanently associated with any particularstructure. However, it is to be understood that the ladder attachmentplatform 10 can be used with portable ladders 14 in certain exemplaryembodiments and is not limited for use with a fixed ladder 14.

The ladder attachment platform 10 may be arranged so that the base 12 isattached to the rungs of the ladder 14 and no other portion of the railcar 60 or ladder 14. In this regard the base 12 may not be attached orcontact the side rails 16 and 18 of the ladder 14. Further, the base 12need not contact any other portion of the rail car 60 and thus the onlypoints of contact between the base 12 or any other portion of the ladderattachment platform 10 is at the rungs of the ladder 14. The points ofcontact in this regard are between the first and second attachmentmembers 36 and 38 and the first rung 20 and between the turnbuckle 50and the second rung 22. However, in accordance with other exemplaryembodiments, portions of the rail car 60 and ladder 14 in addition to oralternatively to the rungs may contact the base 12 or other portions ofthe ladder attachment platform 10.

It is to be understood that as used herein the terms attached,attachable, attachment and so forth are to be construed liberally unlessotherwise noted. For example, the terms may define two components thatare integrally formed with one another or that are separate componentsthat are connected to one another through the use of welding, adhesives,mechanical fasteners, or other means. Further, the terms may define twocomponents that may be capable of pivoting, sliding, or moving withrespect to one another upon the use of these terms as their attachmentmay be pivoting attachment, sliding attachment, etc. Further, the termsmay also mean that the two components contact one another. However, insome arrangements an intervening piece such as a bracket or fastener canbe between the two components so that they do not actually contact oneanother. As such, the foregoing terms mean that the two componentscontact one another in some embodiments, and the foregoing terms alsomean that the two components do not contact one another in otherembodiments.

While the present invention has been described in connection withcertain preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the subjectmatter encompassed by way of the present invention is not to be limitedto those specific embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended for thesubject matter of the invention to include all alternatives,modifications and equivalents as can be included within the spirit andscope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A ladder attachment platform, comprising: a basefor attachment to a ladder, wherein the ladder has a first side rail anda second side rail, and wherein the ladder has a plurality of rungs thatextend from the first side rail to the second side rail in a lateraldirection; a user platform for having a user of the ladder attachmentplatform stand thereon, wherein the user platform is carried by thebase, wherein the user platform is positioned with respect to the laddersuch that the user platform is not located between a first plane thatextends through the first side rail and is perpendicular to the lateraldirection and a second plane that extends through the second side railand is perpendicular to the lateral direction; a first attachment memberthat is a clevis fastener that is attached to a first side of the baseand that is attachable to a first one of the plurality of rungs of theladder; and a second attachment member that is a clevis fastener that isattached to the first side of the base and that is attachable to thefirst one of the plurality of rungs of the ladder.
 2. The ladderattachment platform as set forth in claim 1, wherein the base is made ofa plurality of square tubular members, and wherein the user platform isa solid plate having an anti-skid upper surface.
 3. The ladderattachment platform as set forth in claim 1, further comprising aturnbuckle that is attached to the base and that is attached to a secondone of the rungs of the plurality of rungs of the ladder.
 4. The ladderattachment platform as set forth in claim 1, further comprising ahandrail assembly that extends vertically above the base and the userplatform and that functions to impede a user from exiting the userplatform in a direction towards the location of the base where the firstplane extends through the base, and wherein the base has a second sidethat is located opposite from the first side, and wherein the handrailassembly functions to impede a user from exiting the user platformacross the second side of the base, wherein the handrail assembly isopen to allow a user on the user platform to exit the user platformacross the first side of the base and across an end of the base thatextends from the first side of the base to the second side of the base.5. The ladder attachment platform as set forth in claim 1, wherein theladder is attached to a rail car.
 6. The ladder attachment platform asset forth in claim 3, further comprising a handrail assembly thatextends vertically above the base and the user platform and thatfunctions to impede a user from exiting the user platform in a directiontowards the location of the base where the first plane extends throughthe base, and wherein the base has a second side that is locatedopposite from the first side, and wherein the handrail assemblyfunctions to impede a user from exiting the user platform across thesecond side of the base, wherein the handrail assembly is open to allowa user on the user platform to exit the user platform across the firstside of the base and across an end of the base that extends from thefirst side of the base to the second side of the base.
 7. A ladderattachment platform, comprising: a base for attachment to a ladder,wherein the ladder has a first side rail and a second side rail, andwherein the ladder has a plurality of rungs that extend from the firstside rail to the second side rail in a lateral direction; a userplatform for having a user of the ladder attachment platform standthereon, wherein the user platform is carried by the base; a firstattachment member that is attached to the base and that is attachable toa first one of the plurality of rungs of the ladder; a turnbuckle thatis attached to the base and that is attachable to a second one of therungs of the plurality of rungs of the ladder; and a second attachmentmember that is attached to the base and that is attachable to the firstone of the plurality of rungs of the ladder; wherein the firstattachment member is a clevis fastener that is attached to a first sideof the base and is not movable with respect to the first side of thebase, wherein the first one of the plurality of rungs of the ladder isdisposed within the opening of the clevis fastener that is the firstattachment member; and wherein the second attachment member is a clevisfastener that is attached to the first side of the base and is notmovable with respect to the first side of the base, wherein the firstone of the plurality of rungs of the ladder is disposed within theopening of the clevis fastener that is the second attachment member. 8.The ladder attachment platform as set forth in claim 7, wherein theturnbuckle is attached to the base so as to be capable of pivoting withrespect to the base, and wherein the length of the turnbuckle is capableof being adjusted when the turnbuckle is attached to the second one ofthe rungs of the plurality of rungs of the ladder.
 9. The ladderattachment platform as set forth in claim 7, wherein the ladder isattached to a rail car.
 10. The ladder attachment platform as set forthin claim 7, wherein the base is made of a plurality of square tubularmembers, and wherein the user platform is a solid plate having ananti-skid upper surface.
 11. The ladder attachment platform as set forthin claim 7, wherein the base has a first side and a second side that isopposite from the first side, and further comprising a handrail assemblythat extends vertically above the base and the user platform and thatfunctions to impede a user from exiting the user platform in a directiontowards the turnbuckle, and wherein the handrail assembly functions toimpede a user from exiting the user platform across the second side ofthe base, wherein the handrail assembly is open to allow a user on theuser platform to exit the user platform across a first side of the baseand across an end of the base that extends from the first side of thebase to the second side of the base.
 12. A ladder attachment platform,comprising: a rail car having a first side and a second side that arelocated opposite from and spaced from one another in a width direction,wherein the rail car has an end that extends in the width direction fromthe first side to the second side; a ladder attached to the end of therail car; a base attached to the ladder; a user platform for having auser of the ladder attachment platform stand thereon, wherein the userplatform is carried by the base and is closer to the first side of therail car than the second side of the rail car, wherein at least aportion of the user platform is located outboard from the first side ofthe rail car in the width direction; and wherein the entire userplatform is located completely outboard from the first side of the railcar in the width direction.
 13. The ladder attachment platform as setforth in claim 12, wherein the user platform is a solid plate having ananti-skid upper surface.
 14. The ladder attachment platform as set forthin claim 12, wherein the entire user platform is located in a lengthdirection beyond the end of the rail car such that no portion of theuser platform directly faces the first side of the rail car.
 15. Theladder attachment platform as set forth in claim 12, wherein the basehas a first side and a second side that is opposite from the first side,wherein the first side of the base is closer to the end of the rail carthan the second side of the base; and further comprising a handrailassembly that extends vertically above the base and the user platformand that functions to impede a user from exiting the user platform inthe inboard direction, and wherein the handrail assembly functions toimpede the user from exiting the user platform across the second side ofthe base, wherein the handrail assembly is open to allow a user on theuser platform to exit the user platform across the first side of thebase and across an end of the base that extends from the first side ofthe base to the second side of the base, wherein at least a portion ofthe handrail assembly is located outboard from the first side of therail car in the width direction.
 16. The ladder attachment platform asset forth in claim 12, further comprising: a first attachment memberthat is a clevis fastener that is attached to a first side of the baseand that is attached to a first rung of the ladder; a second attachmentmember that is a clevis fastener that is attached to the first side ofthe base and that is attached to the first rung of the ladder; and aturnbuckle that is attached to the base and that is attached to a secondrung of the ladder.
 17. A ladder attachment platform, comprising: a basefor attachment to a ladder, wherein the ladder has a first side rail anda second side rail, and wherein the ladder has a plurality of rungs thatextend from the first side rail to the second side rail in a lateraldirection; a user platform for having a user of the ladder attachmentplatform stand thereon, wherein the user platform is carried by thebase, wherein the user platform is positioned with respect to the laddersuch that the user platform is not located between a first plane thatextends through the first side rail and is perpendicular to the lateraldirection and a second plane that extends through the second side railand is perpendicular to the lateral direction; and, a turnbuckle that isattached to the base and that is attached to a second one of the rungsof the plurality of rungs of the ladder.
 18. The ladder attachmentplatform as set forth in claim 17, further comprising a handrailassembly that extends vertically above the base and the user platformand that functions to impede a user from exiting the user platform in adirection towards the location of the base where the first plane extendsthrough the base, and wherein the base has a second side that is locatedopposite from the first side, and wherein the handrail assemblyfunctions to impede a user from exiting the user platform across thesecond side of the base, wherein the handrail assembly is open to allowa user on the user platform to exit the user platform across the firstside of the base and across an end of the base that extends from thefirst side of the base to the second side of the base.
 19. A ladderattachment platform, comprising: a base for attachment to a ladder,wherein the ladder has a first side rail and a second side rail, andwherein the ladder has a plurality of rungs that extend from the firstside rail to the second side rail in a lateral direction; a userplatform for having a user of the ladder attachment platform standthereon, wherein the user platform is carried by the base; a firstattachment member that is attached to the base and that is attachable toa first one of the plurality of rungs of the ladder; a turnbuckle thatis attached to the base and that is attachable to a second one of therungs of the plurality of rungs of the ladder; and a base made of aplurality of square tubular members, and wherein the user platform is asolid plate having an anti-skid upper surface.
 20. The ladder attachmentplatform as set forth in claim 19, wherein the base has a first side anda second side that is opposite from the first side, and furthercomprising a handrail assembly that extends vertically above the baseand the user platform and that functions to impede a user from exitingthe user platform in a direction towards the turnbuckle, and wherein thehandrail assembly functions to impede a user from exiting the userplatform across the second side of the base, wherein the handrailassembly is open to allow a user on the user platform to exit the userplatform across a first side of the base and across an end of the basethat extends from the first side of the base to the second side of thebase.